Wake County's UDO does not impose a single countywide guest-count cap on short-term rentals — instead, occupancy is tied to the zoning use category (homestay vs. tourist home) and to NC Building Code/Fire Code limits based on bedroom count and exits. Inside Raleigh, the 2021 STR ordinance (TC-8-20) caps STR units at 25% of any multifamily building or two units, whichever is greater.
Practical occupancy ceilings come from three sources: (1) Wake County UDO homestay/tourist-home zoning standards in Article 4 set the structural envelope; (2) the NC Residential Code and NC Fire Prevention Code limit occupants by bedroom count, square footage and means-of-egress; (3) the Wake County Environmental Services well-and-septic permit on the original certificate of occupancy fixes a design flow (typically 120 gallons per bedroom per day for septic), which effectively limits total bedrooms and guests. STRs on septic systems may not exceed the design bedroom count without an Improvement Permit modification from Environmental Services. Inside Raleigh, in addition to TC-8-20's multifamily cap, the STR may not exceed two adult renters plus their minor children per bedroom under the city's homestay carryover rules.
Exceeding the certificate of occupancy or septic design bedroom count is a UDO and NC Public Health violation enforceable by Wake County Environmental Services and the Planning, Development & Inspections department; remedies include cease-use orders and require septic-system upgrades. Raleigh STR violations are enforced under City Code Ch. 12 with fines and permit revocation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §92.05(H), (I), and (L) target industrial and commercial noise: construction over 1,000 ft from residences, loading/unloading noise at night...
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §92.05(B), (C), (F) prohibits vehicle exhaust noise from out-of-repair or modified vehicles, gong/siren on non-emergency vehicles, and any i...
Wake County, NC
Wake County treats cats the same as dogs under Ch. 91 — owners must vaccinate against rabies at 4 months and keep current tag displayed at all times per §91....
Wake County, NC
Wake County does NOT impose a numeric limit on pets in unincorporated areas. Cities vary: Raleigh allows up to 4 dogs/cats over 4 months per dwelling under §...
Wake County, NC
Wake County adopted the NC Fire Prevention Code (NCFC) under Code Ch. 72. Residential propane storage follows NCFC Chapter 61 and NFPA 58 — typical residenti...
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §130.05 (adopted 11-9-2022, effective 12-9-2022) prohibits firearm discharge within 300 yards of any dwelling, school, church, warehouse, pl...
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